Editing Least weasel (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Alaska Weasel.jpg|thumb|right|Alaskan least weasel (''M. n. eskimo'')]]
[[File:Walid soukkou 99.jpg|thumb|right|Least weasel in northern Algeria]]
The least weasel has a [[circumboreal]], [[Holarctic]] distribution, encompassing much of [[Europe]] and [[North Africa]], [[Asia]] and parts of northern [[North America]]. It has been introduced to [[New Zealand]],<ref name=long/> [[Malta]], [[Crete]], the [[Azore Islands]] and also [[São Tomé Island|São Tomé]] off West Africa. It occurs throughout Europe, except [[Ireland]], and on all major [[Mediterranean]] islands.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Rodrigues, M. |author2=Bos, A.R. |author3=Schembri, P.J. |author4=De Lima, R.F. |author5=Lymberakis, P. |author6=Parpal, L. |author7=Cento, M. |author8=Ruette, S. |author9=Ozkurt, S.O. |author10=Santos-Reis, M. |author11=Merilä, J. |s2cid=20057808 |year=2016 |title=Origin and introduction history of the Least Weasels (''Mustela nivalis'') on Mediterranean and Atlantic islands inferred from genetic data |journal=Biological Invasions |volume=19 |pages=399–421 |doi=10.1007/s10530-016-1287-y |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308991117}}</ref> It also occurs on [[Honshu]] and [[Hokkaido]] Islands in [[Japan]] and on [[Kunashir]], [[Iturup]], and [[Sakhalin]] Islands in [[Russia]].<ref name=iucn/>

The least weasel inhabits fields, open woodland, bushy and rocky areas, parks and gardens at elevations of up to about {{cvt|3000|m}}.<ref name=Collins/>

Fossilised remains of the least weasel are known from [[Denisova Cave]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Puzachenko |first1=A. Yu. |last2=Titov |first2=V. V. |last3=Kosintsev |first3=P. A. |date=2021 |title=Evolution of the European regional large mammals assemblages in the end of the Middle Pleistocene – The first half of the Late Pleistocene (MIS 6–MIS 4) |journal=[[Quaternary International]] |volume=605–606 |pages=155–191 |doi=10.1016/j.quaint.2020.08.038 |bibcode=2021QuInt.605..155P}}</ref>